Steering-wheel.



E. S. BRYANT.

STEERING WHEEL. APPLIOATION FILED AUG. 23, 1901.

Patented Apr. 27, 1909.

INV ENTO RI E LSWORT H S. B RYA NT vvrrwzsses v Mimi AT-rcJRNEiY S.

' ber of arms or s okes 2.

'whio v UNITED sTArns PATENT OFFICE.

ELtswoa'rH s. BRYANT, or DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO CLEVELAND, OHIO.

STEERING-WEE L.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 27, 1909.

Application filed August 23, 1907. Serial No. 389,788.

To alliwhom it moi concern." I

Be it known that I, ELLSWORTH S. BRY- ANT, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Detroit, in the county of -Wayrie and State of Michigan,have invented .certaln new and useful Improvements in Steering-Wheels, of, which the following isa sp'eclficatlon, reference being had therein to t e accompanying drawings. I v

In'the construction-of steerin wheels for automobiles,- power boats, and t e like, it is customary-to form the wheels with a central spider of metal in which the hubs and spokes .are integral, or are rigidly connected, and

' or hub and spo e'construction re uire for any particular purpose, and furnis es .a rim withstands slight distortion. of the s ider without checkin" or s litting, which oes .not jar loose an ratt e, and which, while light, and agreeable to the touch, is extrem'ely durable and strong;

ThG DVGIItiOIL'OOIISiStS in the matters hereinafter set forth, and more particularly pointed outin the claims. Referring to the drawin s, Figure 1' is a lan view of a steering w eel, with parts roken away, showing a referred form of construction which GIIIbOdlGSlthG features of the invention. a view in section through the rim of the wheel, on line 22 of Fig. 1. Fig.3 is a view showing the details of construction of a metal ring used as a core for the rim. v 1

In the drawings, 1 represents a metal spider of any design required by the use for which the wheel is intended, having a num- In a preferred rim construction t e ends of the spokes are squared oif to present tangential faces 3. A perforated loop or band 4 of thin sheet metal transversely corrugated, is secured against the ends 3 of the spokes, the registering of the corrugations of the overlaid end portions 5 formin a comparatively thin, smooth lap joint. T is core-or ban is surrounded by or embedded in a body 6 which is molded or otherwise formed lace while lastic, so that it extends throng and throug the perforations 7 in the band and completely en-- velops it save where the spokes 2 enter, the covered portions 8 of the latter being preferably reduced in cross-section. Theexterior of the body is suitably rounded for the hand.

PATRICK L. HUSSEY, 0F

As the sheet metal core is radially flexible or elastic, the expansion or contraction of the spider does not affect it as a whole, and there-' fore does not split the'rim. Furthermore, the corrugations securely anchor the rim body in place, because, in case the bod and rim do work loose locally or at d' erent points, the corrugation of the band, which, 4 since it is formed of a straight bar bent into a hoop without permanent set, is under slight spring tension, tend, when released from pressure, to elon' ate, and always bear against the body so that there is no jar or rattle. Because of the character of the mass of the body, the rim does notcheck or split, as does a laminated orbuilt "up rim. In addition, there is no danger of detachment of the rim and spider, as the metal fastening members are lnclosed and locked by the bod against working out. The exterior is smoot with no projecting rivetor screw heads.

When an extremel light wheel is desired, the metal strip may e replaced by ratan or like resilient material.

The design and form of the parts may b changed without de arting from the spirlt of the invention, and do not intend to limit myself to any .ment of parts. I

I claim as my invention i 1. A steering wheel comprising a central s ider with outwardly extending arms, a

particular form or arranget perforatedstri of sheet metaltransversely corrugated, cut into a'circle, with overlaid. ends whose corrugations register and form a la joint, secured on the arms, and a rim b0 ofmaterial, enveloping the stri and passing through and through the per orations.

2. A steering wheel comprising a central sfiildier with outwardly extending arms, a t perforated stri of sheet metal, transversely corrugated, out into a circle, and secured a ainst the eripheral faces of the arms, an a body ox material, surrounding body of material, envelo ing the stri and adjacent end portions of t e arms, an passmg through and through the perforations,

theend ortions of the arms so enveloped being re need in cross-section.

4. .A steering wheel comprising a central s ider having outwardly extending arms, a t perforate strip of sheet metal, trans versely corrugated, bent into a circle, the corrugations of the overlaid ends of the stri being brought into register to form a smooth lap joint, and secured to the outer ends of the arms, and a body of material, envelo ing the strip and adjacent end portions of t e arms,

and passin through and through the perforatlons, t e-end portions of the arms so enveloped being reduced in cross-section.

5. A steerlng wheel comprismg a central sfiiger having outwardly extending arms, a t perforate strip of sheet metal, transversely corrugated, bent into a circle, the corrugations of the overlaid ends of the strip being brought into re 'ster to form a lap ELLSWORTH S. BRYANT.

Witnesses:

ANNA M. Dorm, C. R. STUKNEY. 

